Glasgow; Brown nee Blair; Uni Results; Milngavie; Interview ??

Well finally the marks are available - I did not do too well with my Artificial Intelligence . . . but I managed to pass . . . both happy and disappointed - I knew once I had permission to continue that I had to have passed everything but still its nice to see how you have done . . .


Well Glasgow featured in the News around the globe - I am not even going to go there as it has been well covered by everyone and everything that calls itself media . . . I was quite amused by American channels of Glasgow - sounds like I am staying in quite an exotic place . . as was Gordon Browns pronunciation of 'Al Qaeda' sounded a lot more exotic as well . . . When I passed through Queen street station there was a much higher level of security than there has been for a long time . . .


I am totally exhausted - been searching for hotels in London - I think I know the above map of by heart - Judi going down for a 3 day seminar asked me if I wanted to come along - nice opportunity to see Sam as well . . . we booked a hotel on line but it came back fully booked - I eventually done so last night after about 3 and half hours of searching and drawing up a short list - checking map -checking tube map etc., What an absolute nightmare - they try and confuse with lower prices then suddenly when you book its a completely different price - some hide it by charging per person as opposed to a room which sleeps 2 etc., - with breakfast / without - shared bathroom - exclusive bathroom on and on and on . . . . I was so fed up after the hotel which ended up at the top of my list they came back today to say unavailable - then I nearly just booked for the next place on my list and suddenly came across half a dozen reviews which basically said they had to sleep with their clothes on it was that bad - it has a dodgy nightclub on the premises and etc., etc., - thank goodness - nothing worse than being stuck in some dump - Yes, everything is a trade off but if an extra £20 gets you into a half decent place -in my opinion it is money well spent - but hey! that's just me . . . were did I finally book Tavistock hotel - Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9EU they even threw in a free 3 course meal - a done deal and by this time I just wanted to sort it . . .

I spent most of today when I woke up (eventually - after my search - lol) being interviewed by the Council - some job evaluation initiative and I said OK - I was even keener when Iw as told naturally I would be paid for my time . . . What a disaster in the beginning . . . Alan my sort of line manager turned up and we were both there by about 13h25 - supposed to start 13h30 - well by 14h00 we sarted to wonder what was happening - then after a few phone calls turns out they are in Dalmuir @ Concord there ?? anyway the finally arrived at 14h35 - I'm smiling and not at all perturbed by all this - because I'm getting paid for my time so they can take as long as they want. So then they pull out a form and ask me for my completed questionnaire - to which I just raise my eyebrows - 'What questionnaire?' I ask - the one you were supposed to fill in - I can see them watching me for reaction as if I must have got it but perhaps just forgot about it temporarily . . . but if they prompt me sufficiently I will pull it out of my pocket . . . I tell them I know nothing about one and that I was not given one to fill in . . . this worries them and a mumbled conversation takes place as if I no longer exist - I am discussed in third person - and I can see they are not happy - I tell them I was given a few categories to prepare on but nothing more - I read them out the categories - one of them asks to see my list - I refuse - which obviously doesn't happen often - as I can see the shock on his face - I tell him that it is my personal notes on those topics . . . - they then change tack and tell me that I would be within my rights to refuse to continue with the interview on the grounds of xy & z - I say no I am quite happy to continue - Hey, I'm prepared to do it on the fly - now they are confused and clearly want to pack up - but can see I want to continue - they now claim it's up to control (I have visions of mission control somewhere) to decide whether they can continue - I can hear the hope in their voices that they will get the go ahead to just can the whole thing - time is dragging on - only person happy is me - more time - I'm getting paid by the hour here - take as long as you like guys - I am willing to co-operate - eventually mission control gives the go ahead . . . They are both disappointed - they exchange glances - an invisible let's this over asap passes between them. You should have seen the look on their faces when I told them my normal hours of work are 2 and a half hours a week - one guy nearly chokes . . . it turns out to be a computer based questionnaire which covers all the areas supposed to have been completed by me - they still want that - I can fill it in and forward to them later . . . it actually runs quite smoothly hereafter . . . the whole exercise took 3 and a half hours - so if you have ever wondered where your hard earned council tax goes - it goes on worthy causes like myself - we were 4 people in total involved for this period of time - I am glad our taxes are gainfully employed . . . .

Last bit of action today - took a drive through to Milngavie - as Belinda Ross form South Africa was there - she works with Jessila (my ex) and I want to get the tops to Arran for his birthday - couldn't post them so had to manifest Belinda to take them . I drove through arrive at Premier Travel Inn - announce myself at reception - they ask what room number ??? I'm not sure what they mean - one of those days?? Anyway once they realise I am not a guest or checking in - I am told to wait - then after the compulsory 2 minutes I am asked again if I am checking in??? I explain that I ma just dropping something off for someone - OK what room are they in? I tell tehm I don't know - raised eyebrows ?? I give them the name - more confusion they have 2 people with that name - I explain this person is from South Africa - raised eyebrows ?? That's funny because they have one an elderly lady from Milngavie or a younger one form Australia - must be her then I say. Australia ??? They then shock me by just giving me the room number - I would have thought they would call her to reception - so I march down the hall to room 21 - chap on the door - no answer - try again - no answer - back to reception - explain what is happening - hang a round a bit - eventually decide I'll try my luck and leave the parcel at reception - thinking No way - especially after Glasgow and heightened security that they will entertain this idea - anyway I ask 'aye, nae bother' - end of story - mission accomplished - I left it - eventually managed to get Belinda's phone number - she sounds quite the bubbly character - perhaps she has been drinking some bubbly??? Anyway Arran will have his gear for his birthday 15 July . . . . Oh and by the way she is booked in room 22 not 21 ????

I am off to my bed - can't keep my eyes open . . .

Milngavie photo's courtesy of Milngavie The unofficial guide - Compiled by Angela Gawthrop

Photo's beginning of the West Highland way in town - 3 sided clock - reserviors where Glasgow gets a lot of its fresh water from from lake Katrine of course -

More about an amazing Jazz concert Pat Metheny . . .later - too tired now . . .Carling Academy . . . lol - Italian food; Borders - just got my memory back it seems . . lol

PS Thanks to you who participated in IMap - thus far - UK; Scotland & England (I'm shown as London) - South Africa & New Zealand - have a look just above counter - click on icon

Blair; Brown; Flooding; Save Net Radio; Post; Grass; Mini-Me; Jeliot

Well there we are another week draws to an end - what have I been up to and what is happening in the world around me - hmmm! now let's see . . .

In the world around me it has to be the terrible floods down South - North East of England - the picture is of Worcestshire and as you can see they have flood defences in place - areas like Sheffield were not so lucky - supposedly the wettest June - I nearly wrote winter - but of course its Summer - I keep forgetting. Speaking of which I met Petr today and he is from Czech Republic - and I was asking him whether he liked Scotland and he said yes nice weather - I had to ask him again to make sure I had hear him correctly - but he says it is nice and mild here - never gets too cold he is used to -28 degrees in winter - 2m of snow etc., - so enjoys the mild weather in Scotland.

Blair - they finally managed to get him out of No 10 - kicking and screaming I believe - he has been interviewed by the police since leaving - cash for honours row continues. Brown now in power - can he be any worse - OK, I know I could rue the day I said that . . lol yes we'll see - I am not convinced by him yet - just a trifle too nervous and or controlled for my liking - anyway I hope he surprises us all but I am not holding my breath - the cynic that I am. As for making Blair special peace envoy for the middle east - give me a break - he doesn't stand a chance in hell - they have given hima big drum and set him loose in the field - and occaisionally we will hear a bloody noise - but he has no credibility on the ground and as Bush goes will loose all support in the end - I do not see a continued role for Balir like Clinton - Hilary stands a good chance of getting in - no don't even think of mentioning it to Cherie.

There is a major prblem facing Internet radio stations like congress in America - actually some large businesses in States are pressurising congress to pass a bill so that they have to pay millions in royalties . . to these businesses - Wednesday 27 June - all the Internet radios played no music in protest and played an appeal which repeated itself all day asking people in America to contact their congressmen to counter this bill - very annoying for the likes of me who just wanted to listen to music - but very effective at the end of the day . . . hopefully enough people contacted their congressment so that I can continue to listen to my favourite station.




Well I am still hard at work on my dissertation. It looks like the environments I will be having a look at are:

• BlueJ


• Eclipse


• DrJava


• Jeliot


• JGrasp


• Alice

Each has its own advantages - at the moment if I had to make a quick guess I'd say a hybrid of Jeliot & Alic in the very beginning because of what they both offer by means of visualisation and make the learning part fun to start with and BlueJ as the actual editor in the first year and probably migrating to Eclipse in year two - when the programs become more involved and students are more used to and understand things a lot better. But we will keep an open mind and see where things take us. Alice is a uique story-telling tool - whenre you compose a story by means of what is avaiable to you - but you are actually programming all the time. Jeliot actually illustrates all the algoritms and BlueJ gives you UML type diagrams and hide some of the complexity of the syntax from you.

I wanted to send some football tops to Arran, my son, (picture in right) for his birthday 15 July - walked over to the post office thinking I'll just insure it as they are notoriously bad in South Africa - when it comes to stealing the post etc., (apologies for generalising) - but blow me over when the postmaster said no problem but I can't insure as they are not prepared to take that chance - so I can send it but they won't insure the goods because there is a good chance it will not arrive on the other side. Turns out Jessila, my ex, knows of someone coming to Glasgow and she will ask them if they are prepared to take it for me - thank goodness - otherwise it would have to have waited until I go over in March next year.

I have been a BAD BOY - since last year I have been refusing to cut my grass - I went the whole of last year / season - I was working in Edinburgh remember - and I refused to cut it - I offered to pay if the housing would do it - they said OK but then backed out saying no they don't do that - anyway cut a long story short (that is what this is about) - the housing chapped on the door and told me that I am actually no longer in accordance with my tennancy agreement and they will have to write me up / send me somethign or just kick me out - not sure which - I half heartedly argued but in the end had to admit that I had had a good innings and Tuesday I got out there and cut me grass - its still a bit of a mess - takes a few cuts before it will start to take shape but it went from wiast height to ankle height - so I'll play the game now and try and more or less keep at this length.

Just back from the Bellsmyre Blue Chip Computer Club AGM - an excuse for a barbecue - I always enjoy one and tonight was no exception - nice to see everyone again - would not have know about it had Isabell not mentioned it to me recently. Some new faces - Jean's daughter amongst them . . . .

Went to Ndebele last week Saturday a South African shop where I can stock on Mrs Balls chutney - now to South Africans - Mrs Balls is to us what HP sauce used to be to the British or - vegemite is to the New Zealanders' - and to top it all according to Judi she is happy to have found them as they make a mean cup of coffee . . . we had breakfast there . . .

Some of the photo's I suppose need some explanation - opposite is a photo from the Guardian - ala a photo competition and it was about Australia and this Roo in a phone booth won it - looks as if he was just looking for some shade . . . probably just made a quick phone call - no doubt a blind date! Blair leaving Downing street - Blair being parachuted into save the Middle East (Steve Bell) - yeah right! Mini Me - is actually a Scottsih company WeeWorld - who advertised for Graduate programmers at our Dept at university - the rest is history - or rather Mini Me - some screen shots of my dissertation Java environments . . . Mont St Michel (Philip Plisson) - where I believe you really have to keep an eye on the tide - Mags reminded me of this - a place I'd really love to go to still - and will . . . . lastly flooding in Worcestershire.